While Liz is in in Hobart making babies at the IVF clinic she has 12 friends and relatives with newborn or young ones on the way! Congratulations to Mat & Jen with young Thomas and here is a fantasic scan of a great-niece-to-be. . . Little Miss Ganley will be arriving in New York in June. . . nice one Emma.
Chris's low opinion of London took a dive this week when his flat was broken into. His laptop computer, digital camera and many clothes were stolen :-(
On the brighter side they are off to Amsterdam for easter, with a trip also planned to Budapest. Their current plan is to escape from London and find work in the mediterranean for the summer. Sounds good from here !
As a consequence of Sarah's recent successful year in Canada and our currently shrinking family we will be hosting an exchange student for 12 months from July. Early indication is that it will be a 17 year old girl from Norway. We are looking forward to the experience and trust that it will be interesting and rewarding for us all.
Since "downsizing" to the new house we have bought 2 new double beds, 2 new lounge suites, 2 new TVs, 1 reverse cycle air-conditionar/Heat-pump, and various other bits and pieces. I think that only leaves a new fridge on the list and replacing the hot-water system. Its just as well I am still working. . . .
Sarah (17 to-day) is certainly catching up on the driving time she missed by being in Canada! In Tasmania, learner drivers need to complete 50+ hours of instruction before taking the driving test. Sarah has clocked up 30+ in the last month and her skill level is much increased. She must be OK as Liz and Rob trusted her with the WRX :-) If she can master the "reverse park" she may yet be the first of her year group to pass the driving test. 'Onya Sarah !
Peter has now finished his apprenticeship and is still working as a chef in Melbourne. He managed to get home for a few days over Christmas before heading off to a music festival on Phillip Island.
Sporting a Snowboard and a mild Canadian accent, Sarah is now back in Tassie settling into the new home. Her bedroom wall is festooned with Canadian flags, Teeshirts and many photos from the great adventure. We are all delighted to have her back and some adjustments are being made all round.
We are most delighted to have a Welsh friend of Caths staying with us over Christmas. They met on summer camp in Florida. We are all enjoying her lovely smile and sweet disposition. Merry Christmas Hollie. You have made it one that we shall always remember.
With much help from friends and a truck from Hertz, our worldly possessions are now in the new house at 5 Edward Street. Many thanks to all those that contributed. Some pictures of how it looks are available here and below is the view from the balcony:
Thats how many times the wheels on my Moulton have turned in clocking up the 11.5 thousand km milestone passed during the recent Canadian Rockies ride. The bearings have not been adjusted. . . 3 sets of tyres, 3 chains 3 sets of brake shoes and a few cables. . . . The Brooks saddle should be broken in by now too. . .
Dave has recently returned from a hiking and cycling trip taking in parts of Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. Highlights included: Hiking on glaciers and trails around Juneau, Alaska; encounters with bears; a ferry trip down the inside passage to Canada; Cycling the YellowHead Highway; A weekend with daughter Sarah in Prince George. Cycling the Icefields Parkway from Mt Robson via Jasper and Lake Louise to Banff. Several hikes in the Rocky mountain parks, and a quick visit to Vancouver Island. All in all a great trip.
Dave's plan was to sell the large Danbury Drive property and buy a smaller, cheaper place a bit closer to town. The resulting funds might go to towards another yacht or retiring a couple of years early. BUT. . . the girls wanted to live right IN town and not squeeze into a smaller place. SO . . we are buying a 4/5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house minutes walk from the city centre, costing significantly more than we sold the other place for. . .Ah well. . . . no yachts or retirement for a while, but no lawns to mow here. . . :-)
Chris has finished his American trip with a quick visit to Munich for Oktoberfest. He seems to be enjoying himself :-)
More pictures here.
They are now back in the UK seeking gainful employment to replenish the coffers. . . .
Would you cross this bridge? . . .
This situation confronted Dave on a recent trek in Alaska. And he did cross the bridge. . . but only after back-tracking down the trail and meeting some other walkers. On venturing back up the trail, the mother black bear and her two cubs had saunterd off into the scrub. . . :-)
Chris is back in Tassie for a week or so before heading off to the UK via the USA and Dave is setting off to Canada via Alaska to bike down the Rockies and catch up briefly with Sarah in Prince George.
Chris is posting pictures from the trip which you can view at: http://picasaweb.google.com/krshilll/ target = "blank"
Chris has now left Sydney in preparation for the next overseas jaunt. By the look of the pics on the right he did have some problems moving out of his flat in Manly :-)
We are expecting him in Tasmania for a few days before he heads of to the UK via the West Coast of the USA.
Cath turns 20 to-day and had a good day with family & friends. A lovely meal by the log fire at the Gorge restaurant was enjoyed by all and sister liz joined us for the ocassion. Many more of them Catherine . . .
Also a few pics of the new place and stuff here
Well with a bit of help from Hertz with a Truck and manpower from friends (Thanks Rob and Maurice) we have moved all the worldly possessions to the new (rented) place. If the heat pump worked we might be cosily settled in. . . .Luckily there is a large garage under the house to store all the unopened boxes, but there are still a couple more trailer loads of excess to take to the Auction house and some still for Vinnies and the tip.
On a brighter note we are having broadband connected, so you may be able to Skype us at "se7enhills".
After 17 years in the same house with 5 kids there is a lot of stuff to sort through, many treasures to be packed away in boxes and more than a little going to Vinnies or the tip. . .
We are moving to a rented house on the 30th June. We will be at 27 Riverview Road, Riverside 7250.
Liz has a new baby. . . . an eight week old golden retriever puppy called "Miff". Dosen't she look cute! All going well as far as we know at this stage. She has not made the journey up to Launceston yet.
And it looks as though we have found somewhere to rent a bit closer to town until other plans are formed.
Denise has been walkabout in the Northern Teritory this month. . . visiting her sister Rosemary who teaches aboriginal kids at a cattle station (Neutral Junction). She drove up with Doug, visiting Pete the chef in Melbourne on the way for a nice feed of Marlin & Mussels and flying back from Alice Springs. The picture shows Rosemary and her class. . . click it for the big picture . . More pictures here
We have a signed contract for the sale of the house! So its packing mode, although settlement is not until the end of June and we have nowhere to go at present; a medium term rental seems most likely. Meanwhile Denise has gone walkabout to the Northern Teritory to visit her sister who teaches on an aboriginal reserve up there. Liz has just returned from a trip to Perth and seems to have added wake-boarding to her list of accomplishments.
Continuing in semi-permanent holiday mode. . . . Sarah has spent a week snow-boarding in the rocky mountains at Banf with all the other exchange students. (she is on the right in the pic, click for a close-up) Its a hard life for some. Followed by two weeks of school holiday spent in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. But the snow is melting back in Prince George and she now actually has to put in a term at school! More pics here
Dave recently spent a fantastic week sailing down the West Coast of Tasmania. From Strahan down to Port Davey, around Bathurst Harbour and then back around the South Coast to Hobart. Managed to bag Mt Rugby, catch plenty of baracouta and even a couple of tuna. Great company on a quick racing yacht. (Farr 31,"Wildfire") Fast but bouncy at times. The initiation out of Strahan was certainly baptism by wildfire, beating into a stiff southerly in large lumpy seas. Pictures of the trip are here
It could be the new name for the kayak. . . wet arse no fish. . . I have spent quite a few pleasant hours peddal/paddling around the Tamar river, lakes and dams but there is little evidence of this in the freezer. I have caught quite a few, but certainly nothing of note :-(. Photo is sunrise at Low Head on the Tamar, the warm waters at this time of year are supposed to bring in kingfish as well as australian salmon. lol
yes. . . . well . . . Sarah is on student exchange in Canada, but last week her host family took her to Hawaii for a holiday. Its tough for some. I suppose she is back snowboarding again now. . . Meanwhile Chris seems to be making plans to visit Europe later in the year, looking for job opportunities there. . . .
Sarah is taking part in a student exchange for this year and is off to the mighty forests of Northern British Columbia, leaping from tree to tree, well perhaps not. . . Her host family sound lovely and we are sure that she will gain much from the experience, even the -20C winter which will come as a bit of a shock at first. She will be living and attending school in Prince George and will be missed by all at home, expecially Maggie (the dog) Click here for the Pics
Whilst the younger members of the family were off enjoying the Falls Festival, Dave took the ferry over to Flinders Island and cycled around for a week. It does not have the same magic as the Scotish islands, but does have some similarities such as strong winds to cycle into. The locals, although few and far between were friendly and the ferry ride was enjoyable. (Click on th picture for a view from the top of Mt Strezlecki)
